Hover Your Way to a Perfect Lawn: Discover The Top-Rated Electric Hover Mowers
So you have decided that a an electric hover mower may be the one for you. But, there are so many hover mowers available on the UK market today, that choosing one can be fraught with confusion and decisions that will need to be made to ensure you get the hover mower that best suits your requirements.
Don’t worry you are not alone. I have helped hundreds of people over the years to pick a mower that has continues to not only provide years of trouble free service, but also give them a great looking lawn with the least amount of work.
Hover mowers are perfect for those that just want to get the lawn mowed and looking good, without too much physical exertion. But what about the different models available? What size mower should you purchase, how much should you need to pay, what features do you need and so on…
Below, I have provided a guide that will steer you into making the right choice by understanding what hover mowers are available and what you should look out for. Once you know this, you can then use my best hover mower list and reviews below, combined with my handy mower filter tool, so you will be sure you are getting a hover that is just right for you and your circumstances.
OK, enough chit chat, let’s get on to help you shortlist and pick your next hover mower.
Most Popular Flymo Hover Mowers
I have created a comparison table below to show the differences between the range of Flymo hover mowers to assist with your selection.
Flymo’s EasiGlide 300 is an electric hover mower that has a 30cm deck size designed for a small to medium-sized lawn, an area less than half a tennis court. It is a lightweight hover mower at just 8.2kg and is simple to use, and there are very few parts, so there is minimum maintenance. The Flymo EasiGlide 300 has the added benefit of not only being a hover mower but a hover mower that collects the grass cuttings in its 20 litre integrated collection box.
Pros
Lightweight
Economical
Simple to use
Updated model for 2021 - 1700w motor
Handle design allows for storage on the wall
Compact storage
Quiet operation
Cons
Smaller Grass Box (but neatly integrated in the mower body)
The BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB is an electric hover lawn mower with a 30cm cutting width and foldable handles for reduced storage. It has a 1200w motor, 3 cutting heights ranging from 20mm to 40mm and weighs just 7.5kg.
Folding Handles Grass Box Full Indicator Hover Mower
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The LawnMaster Hover Mower, is powered by an 1800W motor, is designed for medium to larger sized lawns and weighs just 8.38kg. It features a large 36cm cutting blade, 26 litre internal grass collection box and has the ability to cut & collect, mulch the grass cuttings.
Pros
Powerful 1800w motor
Great for easy lawn maintenance, translucent box, foldable handles, front transport wheel
Versatile – ability to switch between cut & collect and mulching
Comfortable and easy to use
Auto adjusts power to suit conditions
Dual sided blade
Good build quality at affordable price
Long 15 metre power cable
Cons
Height adjustment is a little fiddly (common with all hover mowers)
Restricted by the length of cable (favourable length compared to other hover mowers)
The Flymo’s SimpliGlide 300 is an electric hover lawn mower with a 30cm cutting width and foldable handles for reduced storage. It has a 1700w motor, 4 cutting heights ranging from 10mm to 30mm and weighs just 7.3kg.
Pros
Compact and lightweight
Updated model for 2021 - 1700w motor
Handle design allows for storage on the wall
Compact storage
Low 10mm cutting height
Front wheel for easy transport
Simple to use
Cons
Changing the height adjustment is little fiddly due to absence of a central height lever
The Flymo’s SimpliGlide 330 is an electric hover lawn mower with a 33cm cutting width and foldable handles for reduced storage. It has a 1700w motor, 4 cutting heights ranging from 10mm to 30mm and weighs just 7.3kg.
Pros
Compact and lightweight
Updated model for 2021 - 1700w motor
Handle design allows for storage on the wall
Compact storage
Low 10mm cutting height
Front wheel for easy transport
Simple to use
Cons
Changing the height adjustment is little fiddly due to absence of a central height lever
Flymo’s SimpliGlide 360 is the big brother of the SimpliGlide 330 and offers a larger 1800w motor and a 36cm deck. This mower uses a hover system to reduce effort when moving around your lawn and it is aimed at medium garden sizes. The Flymo SimpliGlide 360 has 4 cutting heights that range from a low 10mm to 30mm and weighs in at only 7.5kg.
Pros
Compact and lightweight
Updated model for 2021 - 1800w motor
Handle design allows for storage on the wall
Compact storage
Front wheel for easy transport
Simple to use
Cons
Changing the height adjustment is little fiddly due to absence of a central height lever
The Flymo Turbo Lite 250 is 25cm electric hover lawn mower with a powerful 1400 watt motor, rotary metal blade, 4 height adjustments, 10 metre cable and foldable handles making it very easy to manoeuvre, store and provides a professional cut from heights between 11mm to 31mm.
The Flymo Hover Vac 250 is an ergonomically and simple to use hover lawn mower with a respectable 1400 Watt motor designed for small to medium sized lawns. It has a 25cm cutting width and is lightweight at just 6.5Kg and is supplied with an integrated 15 Litre grass collection box. The Flymo Hover Vac 250 has a metal blade for a neater cut that is of good quality and will last longer. There are 4 steps cutting heights from 11mm to 31mm and a 10 metre power cable.
Folding Handles Grass Box Full Indicator Hover Mower
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Flymo’s EasiGlide 330 (VX) is the big brother of the EasiGlide 300 and offers a larger 1700W motor and some extras that make it more user-friendly. The mower uses a hover system to reduce effort when moving around your garden and it is aimed at small to medium garden sizes. The Flymo EasiGlide 330 has a respectable 33cm cutting diameter with an integrated 20 litre grass collection box and weighs in at only 8.2kg.
Pros
Grass Viewing Window
Powerful Motor
Compact and lightweight
Updated model for 2021 - 1700w motor
Handle design allows for storage on the wall
Compact storage
Simple to use
Cons
Small Grass Box (but neatly integrated in the mower body)
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Electric Hover Mower
What Makes A Good Electric Hover Mower?
To understand what makes a good hover mower it is a good idea to know how a hover mower actually works.
Hover mowers demonstrate an interesting approach to removing as many moving parts from the lawn mower as possible. Rather than the machine running on fixed or swivel wheels, a fan develops a high-pressure cushion area under the deck of the hover mower, so essentially the mower is floating on air.
Table Showing The Type Of Person A Hover Mower Is Best Suited To
Type of Person
Description
Homeowners with small or oddly shaped lawns
Hover mowers are highly manoeuvrable and can easily reach nooks and crannies that traditional mowers may struggle with
Homeowners with lawns on slopes
Hover mowers are ideal for slopes as they can easily move in any direction and are not limited by the direction of wheels
Those who prioritise ease of use
Hover mowers are lightweight and easy to push, making them a good choice for those who find traditional mowers too heavy or difficult to manoeuvre
Those who want a low-maintenance option
Hover mowers have fewer moving parts than traditional mowers, making them easier to maintain and repair
Budget-conscious buyers
Hover mowers tend to be less expensive than traditional mowers, making them a good choice for those on a tight budget
Those who like a low cut lawn
Hover mowers tend to allow for a lower cutting height, normally around 10mm
Note: This table is not exhaustive and other factors, such as the size and condition of the lawn, may also impact the suitability of a hover mower. Please consider all factors when selecting a lawn mower.
Main Characteristics Of Hover Mowers
So how does this technology make a lawn mower a suitable contender to be on your shopping list and what are its benefits compared to a traditional lawn mower? There are many homeowners out there that, once they have tried a hover mower, would never go back to a four wheeled model. But why is this? Below I have listed some of the main characteristics of a hover mower so you can be confident in choosing the best hover mower for your personal circumstances.
Hover mowers are extremely manoeuvrable as they hover and there is little contact with the lawn.
Hover mowers can be easily moved in any direction.
Ideal for sloped lawns due to less force needed to push/pull.
They are normally lighter in weight compared to their wheeled electric, petrol or battery counterparts.
Electric hover mowers produce low noise levels.
They have low resistance to travel due to the hovering on cushion of air, therefore physical effort is minimal.
They work well on lawns with obstacles that need to be navigated around.
No external grass collection box as either integrated or not present.
Hover Mower Power
As the older style electric hover mowers did not have grass collection bags, they only needed enough power to move the blade. As hover lawn mowers have progressed, the efficiency of the motors has developed with them, as they now produce a lot more torque for the same power.
Manufacturers of hover mowers have a better understanding of the typical size and type of gardens their customers have. Companies like Flymo made their adjustments to develop an economical machine. A lighter motor makes it float better and is easier to hang the unit in a shed or garage. The greater the torque, the better the cutting power and ability to collect and compact the grass clippings in those that now have integrated grass collection boxes. If the motor is stronger and more powerful, it can perform the process of vacuuming up the grass and compressing it into the collection box as well as, if not better than, its wheeled competitors. Generally, hover mowers will have more powerful motors than a standard mower due to the additional power required to lift the machine while in use. I would not recommend choosing a hover mower with a motor less than 1400w as from my experience this would be underpowered. For example, the Flymo SimpliGlide 360 has an excellent 1800 motor that provides it with excellent manoeuvrability and cutting power.
Power cables are unavoidable when it comes to an electric hover mower. A petrol engine with its fuel tank weighs a considerable amount more than an electric motor, and lithium-ion batteries are still expensive and will again add to the overall weight.
When choosing a corded hover mower, it is important to look at the length and quality of the cable. A longer cord is not always better as it is more likely to get twisted and get in the way.
Blades & Cutting Width
The size of the cutting width will be determined largely by the size of your lawn. The cutting width of hover mowers range between 25cm and 36cm, so it is essential to choose one that is suitable for the square meterage and terrain of your lawn and the storage space you have available.
Cutting diameters of electric hover mowers tend to be smaller than those of traditional machines. The blade is one of the heaviest components, and a bigger blade means a bigger motor. It is unusual to find a blade diameter beyond 38 centimetres.
The hover mowers are ideal for manoeuvring around small tight gardens, and not for cutting miles of grass in a straight line. They can be moved easily in any direction and are ideal for lawns that have inclines or obstacles to be manoeuvred around and this should be taken into consideration when choosing your new hover mower.
Hover Mowers Height Adjustment
Under the lifting fan is the cutting blade, and as with all mowers, this height is adjustable. To ensure that hover mowers are light enough to float above the grass, manufacturers do away with complexities that add additional weight such as the height adjustment mechanism.
Hover movers tend to use spacers between the blade and the fan. Hover mowers should be provided with a tool to undo the bolt that attaches the blade, and a splitter to help separate the spacers from one another.
Most hover mowers will give you a maximum of 4 cutting heights ranging between 10mm and 30mm.
Below is a video that shows you the process of adjusting the height on a typical hover mower.
Some homeowners might see the process of adjusting the height of a hover mower as time-consuming and cumbersome. Whilst it is true, that this will take more time and effort when compared to a traditional mower, it is by no means difficult to do and is the only way that manufacturers can allow the height to be adjusted. If you believe that you are going to be adjusting the height of your mower on a regular basis, then I would question whether or not a hover mower is the best choice in these circumstances.
Grass Collection Box
Some non-collection hover models force the cut grass out from under the lip and across the lawn. On the other hand, the cut and collect versions of hover mowers now have an integrated grass collection box within the main body, and have improved the blade design for more effective collection and that requires less passes due to a sharper precision cut.
Most hover mowers will not mulch, due to the way they function and fan the cuttings through the blades. They do however cut the clippings small in order to reduce the space taken up in the grass collection box.
Some models even have the option of a clear plastic collection box. This enables you to see when the grass collection box is getting full and needs to be emptied, removing the guesswork.
Hover Mower Practicalities
Hover mowers are lightweight and simple to operate; they offer the flexibility of storage that a petrol mower cannot provide. An electric hover mover can hang at any angle without leaking oil and they are fast to set up and get started. It is a question of economising on time, and a hover mower is an option that will simply get the job done quickly from start to finish.
In terms of safety always follow the manufacturers safety advice in the user manual.
Electric hover movers do not have as many safety features as petrol mowers. There are safety switches to allow the controllers to activate the throttles, but that is about it. The consensus with any machine of this type is to unplug it before you turn it over for cleaning or height adjustment.
Make sure that the blade nut is done up tight and that it is plugged into a proper wall socket with a residual circuit breaker. Electric lawn mowers tend to have surge protectors to protect the motor.
Even though hover mowers float, they will still cut the wire. It is better to trail the power cord behind the machine and always guide the electric cable round the garden, so it doesn’t get caught.
Pros & Cons Of Hover Mowers
Pros
Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre as travels on cushion of air
Good value
Suitable for small to medium sized gardens
Good for uneven and hilly lawns and gardens
Powerful motors that cut effectively
Easy and compact to store
Economical to run and maintain
Integrated grass collection boxes
Quieter operation
Simple to operate
Cons
Do not create an attractive striped lawn appearance
Limited height adjustment and range
Height adjustment is manual
Limited features and cutting options
Conclusion
It is indisputable that an electric corded mower is a lot more efficient and greener than a petrol mower. Electric corded hover mowers do not need a degree in mechanics to get them up and running, and they are easy to maintain.
Hover mowers have a small cutting footprint, and because of the hover, it can take a few passes over the same area to get all the grass cut. It is worth spending the time looking at whether your garden is too big to make buying a hover mower a suitable consideration.
If mobility or strength is an issue for the operator, then a hover mower can be a real solution. The cushion of air reduces the friction between the mower and the lawn making it easier than a wheeled mower to manoeuvre. Having said that, the idea of a hover mower is to swing it from side to side as well as backward and forward. By its very nature “swinging” side to side is going to be harder to perform for less physically abled operators. You can always push the hover mower backward and forward like a traditional wheeled mower, this will be easier due to the cushion of air.
Which hover mower is the best choice for you depends on so many personal preferences and lawn situations. To help you out use the list below to shortlist a hover mower that is going to meet all of your needs and preferences and will serve you well throughout the seasons. If you have any questions feel free to use the comments box below and I will be happy to help.
Hover Mowers FAQs
Are Hover Mowers Worth It?
Hover mowers do not have the same power as a petrol or even a regular electric mower, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a wealth of other benefits. They’re incredibly easy to use for starters, which makes them ideal for people whose mobility or strength is limited. Moreover, they’re very lightweight and compact, so are good if you’re limited on storage space.
How Does A Hover Mower Work?
Hover mowers, as their name suggests, hover on a cushion of air which is created by the mower when the blade is powered up and spinning at speed. Moving the lawn mower on this cushion of air, slightly above the grass, gives the blades space to cut.
Who Invented The Hover Mower?
The hover lawn mower was invented in 1964 by a guy called Karl Dahlman. His design was inspired by the hovercraft and Swedish company Flymo took on the design and this is one of their most well known products. Also note that Flymo falls under the umbrella of Husqvarna, just in case you were in any doubt of its quality.
Do Hover Mowers Collect Grass?
Hover mowers can come with a grass box at the rear or are centrally mounted to the machine, where most of the clippings are drawn in so that you can dispose of them conveniently. However, these mowers are known for their tendency to drop some of the clippings back onto the lawn, so you may need to rake up a little afterwards. If you really are looking for a lightweight hover mower, then models are available that do not collect the cuttings.
Do Hover Mowers Make Stripes?
Striped lawns are created through the use of a rear roller which adds weight to the grass, changing the direction of the blades by force which then creates a striped appearance. Since hover mowers cannot have a rear roller fitted, it is not possible to create a striped lawn.
Do Hover Mowers Cut Well?
Hover mowers may not give as clean and sharp a cut as some other types of mower, but that isn’t to say that they are not good per se. It all depends on what you’re looking to achieve with your mower. If you want something for easy and regular maintenance of a lawn, then a hover mower will suffice. However, if you need a mower that’ll tackle dense grass or give a professional, manicured finish, then hover mowers might not be right for you and won’t offer the cut you require.
Can You Get A Cordless Hover Mower?
All hover mowers were powered by mains electric, but that was up until recently when Cobra, one of the most well renowned lawn mower manufacturers in the world, released the first ever cordless hover mower.
Is It Safe To Mow Wet Grass With An Electric Hover Mower?
When using your electric hover mower, I would never suggest cutting wet grass. Water and electricity do not mix and doing so runs the risk of damaging the internal workings of your machine. What’s more, and perhaps more importantly, this carries a risk of electric shock and simply isn’t worth it. Besides cutting wet or even damp grass will cause the mower to clog and prevent it from cutting effectively.
What Is The Largest Hover Mower?
Hover mowers are designed to be more compact, but Flymo makes the SimpliGlide which is one of the largest of its kind and is ideal for bigger lawns with its 36cm cutting width.
How Long Will An Electric Hover Mower Last?
Electric mowers, hovering or not, usually come with a pretty generous warranty, but the mower will likely outlast this provided that you take good care of it. Most electric hover models will last up to ten years, but on average, you can expect to get around five years use out of them.
What Is The Lightest Flymo?
If you’re looking for a super lightweight hover mower, then the Flymo Turbo Lite 330 is an excellent choice as it weighs just a little over 6kg. This is perfect if you have problems with strength and stamina, but still gives you everything you would expect from this type of equipment.
Why Won’t My Hover Mower Hover?
If you notice that your hover mower is not hovering slightly above the grass as it is supposed to, then this is likely due to a layer of thatch or moss on the lawn which can prevent the air cushion from working as it should. To get rid of this problem you will need to scarify your lawn before mowing it.
As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.
Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.
With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.
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